Clubs gather for crisis talks, and the AFL's not invited
Damian Barrett | March 05, 2009
THE presidents of all 16 AFL clubs have broken with convention to schedule a crisis meeting without the AFL.
The clubs have put rivalries aside to tackle a raft of pressing economic issues, which they refer to in conversations with each other as "the financial Armageddon".
The meeting will be held on March 18, a day before the club presidents meet the AFL Commission.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said he was made aware of the clubs' united plan to combat the global economic crisis when told on Tuesday by North Melbourne president James Brayshaw.
It is believed Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, Western Bulldogs boss David Smorgon and Brayshaw, through a series of informal talks, felt adopting a 16-club stance on issues crucial to the future, particularly the financial returns on offer from Docklands stadium and the MCG, would be valuable.
All clubs, including the non-Victorian teams, endorsed the idea.
It is believed West Coast chairman Mark Barnaba was arguably the most supportive of the concept.
There is talk among some club officials that up to eight clubs could post $1 million-plus losses in 2010, after some sponsorship deals expire at the end of this year.
Among the issues to be covered at the meeting are:
STADIUM rights deals, and the crushing, by comparison, financial returns offered to clubs based at Docklands and the MCG.
THE possible establishment of a club representative-based committee to analyse expenditure at AFL headquarters.
REQUESTING the AFL to cease what some clubs perceive as a "divide and conquer" approach to the 16 clubs.
FORMING a new stance, in light of the financial downturn, on the AFL's $200 million expansion pursuits on the Gold Coast and in western Sydney.
CONSIDERATION to asking the AFL for immediate use of a portion of the $80 million-plus in the AFL's Future Fund.
Demetriou said last night the meeting was a smart move.
"I think it is a terrific idea.," he said.
"It is a good opportunity for them to get together before they meet us, and they can share information on a financial perspective."
Demetriou denied the AFL was wasting money.
"We have been shouting from the rooftops about our spend. It is why we have cut costs. It is why we didn't take a (NAB Cup) game to South Africa. It is why we are doing an incredible amount of due diligence and financial modelling around the Gold Coast, for example."
Brayshaw said the meeting showed clubs were well aware of the financial crisis.
"There's nothing sinister at all in this. We are all just worried about what is ahead and maybe, as a collective, we can get our heads around what is required to shore up the future," he said.
While the presidents meet annually with the AFL Commission and its executive, for years they have not sought a meeting excluding representation from headquarters.
Smorgon said he endorsed the proposal.
"We are working in a very transparent manner with the AFL. I was asked my views and I agreed that it was a good idea to get together," he said.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said: "The more the clubs work together as a group and the more they talk about the issues confronting the code, the better it is.
"There are a lot of challenges for the code, given the economic circumstances."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25139964-19742,00.html
